LIFEBOAT SAFETY: REDUCING RISK DURING DRILLS AND MAINTENANCE Published: 14 July 2026 Injuries during lifeboat maintenance and abandon ship drills remain a serious concern. To reduce these risks, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has strengthened its guidance over many years. These updates should be reflected in ship safety management systems and company procedures, which must be reviewed regularly. However, incidents still occur, often due to: Lack of familiarity with lifeboat equipment or launching arrangements Unplanned operation of an on-load release mechanism Inadequate/incorrect maintenance practices Familiarisation is key Because lifeboat designs vary between manufacturers, seafarers may find that equipment and launching arrangements differ from ship to ship. New joiners must therefore be trained to board the lifeboat safely and secure themselves before launch. Familiarisation should also cover the requirements for entering the lifeboat. Many companies require a Permit to Work (PTW) for routine, non-emergency entry, with additional securing measures depending on the task. The onboard risk assessment for lifeboat work should also be reviewed and updated as needed. The training manual required by SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 35 forms part of this familiarisation and should be read as soon as possible after joining the ship. Ask for familiarisation training before working on or entering a lifeboat Release Mechanism Leading on from the general familiarisation of the lifeboat and access requirements, is the more specific knowledge required of the release mechanism. Confusion and misoperation of release systems are one of the major causes of incident resulting in serious injury. The launching arrangement should be shown and described to new joiners, along with the method of confirming that the release arrangement is in a safe condition. Confirm that clear operating instructions are in place with a suitably worded warning notice. If not, this should be r